Apparatus for separating potatoes



Jam, 20, 1953 R. G. INNES ET AL APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING POTATOES Filed Nov. 5, 1948 2 SI-EETS-Sl-IEET 1 Jan. 20, 1953 R. G. INNES ET AL 2,626,051

APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING POTATOES Filed Nov. s, 1948 2 SHEETS.SHEET 2 Patented Jan. 20, 1953 2,626,051 I APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING POTATOES Robert G. Innes, Davenpora lowa, and' George Innes, Altadena,'0alif.; said Robert G. Innes assignor to said George Innes Application November 3, 1948, Serial No. 58,106 3 Claims. (01. 209 -157) head of water which picks up potatoes deposited in this area and causes them to traverse over a,

baflie. In the meantime clods and rocks which are of sufiicient specific gravity not to be carried over the baflie are thus separated from the potatoes.'

It is another feature of this invention that while a column of water is thus used for the separating of potatoes from the impurities, the potatoes are very quickly'removed from exposure to to the water and are thus not spoiled by what in fact would amount to a drowning of the potatoes.

It is another feature of this invention that novel means are provided to equalize the pressure and the flow of water'through thewidth of the 1m a It is another feature of this invention that a novel pump mechanism is provided adapted to handle muddy water which may contain dirt,

sand, vines and other impurities.

Itis another feature of this invention that" novel bailiing means are provided as above specified'for equalizing the flow of water over the width of the flume having alarge central core whose diameter is great enough to prevent the entangling thereon of vines and the like.

Itis another feature of this'invention that an elevator is provided for removing the separated potatoes from the tank, which elevator on its return flight acts to force sand, rocks and the like into a conveyor which removes the same from the tank.

It is another feature of this invention that the belts or conveyors for conveying the mixed potatoes, rocks, clods and the like to the separator have variable speed control means whereby the loads being deposited in the separator can be regulated at will.

Basically, the invention utilizes the principle that freshly harvested potatoes have a specific gravity of approximately '78 pounds per cubic foot, while wet sand will have a specific gravity inthe neighborhood of from 113 to 118 pounds per: cubic foot,-and-stones and rocks will vary from to pounds per cubic foot; thus it is possibleto separate the potatoes from the wet sand, silt, stones and other impurities by presenting the accumulated mixture to a rising column of water so regulated as to carry the light potatoes over a baflle, but which column of water is insufiicient to lift the wet sand and stones and other impurities. It is necessary, however, in utilizing this principle to remove very quickly the potatoes from the water, as freshly harvested potatoes are living organisms which will be drowned on long exposure to the water and quickly spoil.

J'Ihese and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the annexed specification in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a separator involving the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical,'longitudinal, fragmentary section'taken' through the left end of the tank in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinalsecti'on taken through the lower end of the cylinder I38 in Figure I.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the lines ll of Figure 2.

Figure' L'the forward 'endof a conveyor belt 12 is "disposed above an elevator which is mounted on a frame 52 and comprises an elevator frame including upper spaced guide bars 53,'on1y one of which may be seen'in Figure 1, lower spaced guide bars 55, only'one of which may be seen in Figure 1, lateral struts 51 and 58 and'end pieces 59 and 60. It will be appreciated that what has been described and particularly illustrated in Figure 1 is one 'sideonly'of the elevator frame and an opposite rear side is to be understood.

Suitably mounted as upon a shaft 63, journaled in bearings 6 I carried by the frameare sprockets 62, and, similarly, suitably'mount'ed as upon shaft 64;;iournaled in bearings 65 are sprockets 6B.

A-pair of chains 61, only one of which may be seen in Figure 1, are carried by the sprockets 66 and-the sprockets 62 and between the chains 61 there is secured a plurality'of spaced angle bars 69 forming the carrying portions of the'elevator. It will be appreciated that potatoes deposited on the elevator by the belt 12 are raised by the elevator, particularly by the angle bars 69, to an elevated position; The sprockets 66 are driven by means of a'sprocket 1U keyed to the shaft Bland a chain- 'II riding'over a sprocket I2 keyed to the shaft of amotorl3r From the elevator just described the'potatoes Referring to the drawings and particularly to still having intermingled therewith a certain amount of stones, sand and dirt are deposited into the separator tank.

A separator tank is indicated generally by the number 80 and comprises side walls 8I, a bottom wall 82 which is curved and disposed substantially in a plane at an acute angle to horizontal as indicated, having a rear wall 83 broken as at 84, Disposed within the tank 80"and running laterally between the side walls 8I are bafile plates The baffle plates 85, 86 and 81 85, 88 and 87. are joined as shown most clearly in Figured and Figure 2, and together with the bottom plate "discovered that such an auger or ribbon screw 88 form an enclosed box. A bracket 89 is attached to the rear wall 83 and has anenlarged'threade'di portion 90 adapted to receive a threaded shaft" 9| having at one end a hand wheel 92. and having 5 its other end pivotally connected to a plate 93, which is pivotally mounted between the sidewalls" SI of the tank as at 94. The plate 93 likewise extends substantially the enti're'distance between the side walls 8|, and by turning the hand wheel 92 the plate 93 may be disposed so as to regulate the size of the passage between the plate 93 and thebafiie plat 85.

Referring particularly to Figure 2, it will be noted that a well comprising a forward wall 95, a bottom wall 96 and a rear wall 91 and side walls formed by an extension of the walls BI has been provided adjacent the rear portion of the tank. Further, it will be noted that anopening 98 is provided in the broken rear wall 84, which opening is in communication with a flume 99. The flume 99 likewise extendssubstantially completely across the width of the tank and has an extension formed by the walls I and I0'I and walls I02 and I03 entrant into the tank 80. The walls I00 and IOI converg slightly, as shown, forming a restricting nozzle serving to prevent eddying of the water.

Disposed to one side of the tank80 in an upstanding position'is a pump'comprising a cylinder I05 in which is rotatably mounted a ribbon screw I06 forming the impeller'of the pump. Th ribbon screw I06 is wound about a central shaft I07, which shaft has a substantial diameter sufficient so'that any vines or the like which may be present in the water in the tank willnot be able to wind completely about the'shaft and clog the'mechanism.

The shaft I0! is attached to the shaft of .a motor I08 and driventhereby. The outlet end of the pump comprises an opening I09 in the wall of the cylinder I05 in line with which a laterally disposed cylinder 0' The cylinder H0 is likewise provided'with a ribbon screw III wound upon a shaft II2"wh'ich'is likewise of substantial diameter for the same purpose as is the shaft'I0'I. The shaft H2 'is reduced as at I I3, which reduced portion is journaled in a bearing I I4 carried by the spider I I5. A conduit H3 provides communication with the bottom of the cylinder I05 for circulating water to the pump from the tank 80. The cylinder I I0 and the shaft I I2 with its ribbon screw I I I extends beyond the margin of the walls 8| as indicated at Ill and a motor I I 8 is mounted upon the extension, driving the shaft I I2 through sprockets I I9 and I inter:

will have this effect, particularly when its ends are extended beyond the limits of the flume in both directions as indicated herein.

The wall or baffle plate 8? has a continuation I23 which likewise extends completely across the tank between the walls SI and a portion of this wall I23 is rounded as at I24 to form a halfcylinderand communicates with the wall I03 as clearly indicated in Figure 6. A shaft I25 having a ribbon screw'or auger I26 wound thereon is positioned in the semi-cylindrical portion I24, and this semi-cylindrical portion communicates with a box I2! extending outwardly from the sides of the tank, and the shaft and auger extend into said box and are driven by a motor I28 mounted on the box through the sprockets I29 and I30 andchain mm.

The bottom wall 82 has a substantially semicylindrical portion I3I similarly extending completely between the walls BI, and this semicylindrical portion communicates with and closes withthe portion I24 as shown in Figure 6. Disposed within thissemi-cylindrical portion I3I is a shaft I32 having a ribbon screw or auger I 33 wound thereon. The semi-cylindrical portion I3 I" similarly communicates with the box I21 and the shaft I32 and screw I33 are driven likewise by th BjimQtOI I28 by means of the sprockets I34. I 35 andohain 136; The bOX IEI has an opening I3 1 therein communicating with a cylinder I381 The cylinder I38 is disposed both at an angle to the horizontal and at an angle to the axis of the separator as shown by comparing Figures 1,

2 and 3, an'd the cylinder I38 has a shaft I 39 therein on which is wound a rib'bon'screw or" auger I40. The shaft I39 is journalled in a bearingI4I onjthe end wall I42 of the cylinder I38, and the upper end of the shaft I39 extends through the upper'end wall of the cylinder and" is fitted with a pulley I43; A motor I44 is mounted upon'the cylinderl38 and the shaft thereof is provided with a pulley I45 connected" to'the pulley I43 by a belt I46. Thus'thefshaft rials. to the same stations for the same purposesl In this regard it is contemplated that the belt conveyer which replaces the auger I40 wi1l ,,be provided with a plurality of fiights spaced and fastened to the belts for the purpose of giving traction to the loose sand, rocks, etc.

Mounted within the tank and having its upper end extending outwardly beyond said tank memos-1::

, 5 is an *elevator. members I48 and Sand interconnecting mem bers- I50 and sprockets I5I are mounted on a shaft I52 which is journalled in bearings I53' I52, and a motor I63 is provided having a sprocket I64 on which is mounted a chain I65 which also connects with the sprocket I62 to drive the sprockets I59 and hence the elevator chain;

The water conduit II6 is joined to the tank 80 so as to provide for recirculation of the water. The'conduit IIS should communicate with the forward and cleaner end of the tank 88, as shown at IIGa. A water outlet I10 is provided on the cylinder I38. Positioned above the path ofthe elevator last described is a perforated pipe IE6 attached to a suitable source of water for supplying a spray of water over the potatoes being removed from the tank by the, elevator for the purpose of washing 01f muddy "water and adding fresh water to the tank.

The operation of the device is as follows: Assuming that a load of potatoes mixed with rocks, clods, sand, earth, vines and the like to have been dumped upon the screen belt I2, the mixture will be conveyed along the belt I2 with some separation of rocks, earth, sand and the like which passes through the screen belt I2 and falls upon a belt 3| which, it will be noted, is being driven in the opposite direction. The belt ill will convey the screened out material to a disposal conveyor by means of which the screened out material is removed and dumped at any suitable point.

The material remaining upon the belt I2 which will comprise substantially all of the potatoes still mixed with some clods, dirt, stones and the like which have not been separated by the screen belt is presented to the elevator comprising the chains 61 and angle bars 69. From this elevator the mixture is dumped into the tank 80 in the region of the opening between the walls 81 and I02 and thus in the path of the head of water flowing in the flume 99. The level of water in the tank 88 is maintained as shown at I80 above the uppermost portion of the bafile plate 85 with a constant head of water flowing thereover. The level I88 is maintained approximately four inches above the uppermost point of the bafiie plate 85, and we have found that a rate of flow over this point of thirty-two gallons of water per inch of bafiie per minute is sufficient to accomplish the functions of this invention. The mixture of potatoes, rocks, clods and the like having thus been presented to the head of water, the potatoes by reason of their lower specific gravity will be carried by the head of water over the plate 85, down the plate 85 and onto the discharge elevator. The open framework or grill upon which the chains and crossbars of this elevator in their upper flight are supported will permit any remaining sand or dirt or small stones to be dropped through the elevator onto the curved bottom 82 of the tank. This curved bottom 82 is of a configuration so that the lower flight of The elevator comprises framethe chains I54 will be spaced therefrom a" sufil f cient distance to drag the lower edges of the 1 angle -bars I55 along the upper surface thereof and scrape any sand or mud along the bottom 82 into the semi-cylindrical portion I3I. Such sand and gravel thus presented to the semicylindrical portion I3I will be removed therefrom by the sand auger I33 and presented to-the box I21. 7

The stones, clods, Which'by reason of their higher specific gravity were unable to'pass the uppermost portion-ofth'e bafiie plate 85 will'fall into the semi-cylindrical portion I 24 and be removed therefrom -by the auger I28 andpresented to the box I21. The sand and lighter impurities removed by the auger- I33 and the heavier impurities removed by the auger I26 and passed to the'box- I21-will fallthrough the opening I31 into the cylinder I38 and will be removed therefrom by the auger I40, discharging through the discharge opening I41- preferably to a waiting truck for disposal.

The potatoes being discharged from the discharge elevator are finally washed clean by the spray pipe I66 and can be collected fromthe" top of the elevator in condition for sacking.

By manipulation of the hand wheel 92 the plate 93 may be adjusted so as to adjust the'opening between the plate93 andtlie"plate85 in order to regulate the operation of theseparatort The motors 28 and 13 driving the screen belt I2 and elevator chains 61 and 68 are provided with variable speed mechanisms (not shown) which preferably comprise a right angle drive plate mechanism as is well understood in the art. By means of these variable speed mechanisms the speed of the conveyor belts and elevator may be regulated so as to regulate the rate of passage of the potatoes supplied to the separator. Further, by reason of the hereinabove described extension of the cylinder I I0 beyond the limits of the tank 88 on both sides and hence beyond the limits of the fiume 99, and by reason of the slowly driven auger III therein we are able to present a uniform water pressure and rate of flow across the full width of the flume 99, thus maintaining maximum efficiency of the separator.

It will be further noted that each of the augers which is provided herein for driving water, mud, sand, clods or the like is provided with a substantially enlarged shaft for the purpose of preventing the entanglement thereon of vines, weeds or the like.

While there has been described what is at present considered a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention, and it is intended to cover herein all such changes and modifications as come within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for separating potatoes from clods, rocks, dirt and the like, comprising: a tank; a. bafile dividing said tank into sections; a pump for establishing a rising flow of water over said baffie whereby said potatoes are separated from said clods, rocks and dirt by flotation over said bafile; a conduit between said pump and the first of said sections having an opening along one of its sides communicating with the first of said sections; a pressure equalizing member concentrically mounted within said conduit and exand other removed material for establishing a rising flow of water over said bafile whereby said potatoes are separated from said clods, rocks and dirt by flotation over said baffle; a conduit between said pump and the firstv of said sections having an opening along one of its sides communicating with the first of said sections; a pressure equalizing device in said conduit comprising a ribbon screw in said conduit; means for slowly driving said ribbon screw where'- by said rising flow of water is'made uniform over,

the entire length of said opening; and means for removing said potatoes from said tank immediately after said separation.

3. Apparatus for separating potatoes from.

tions; a pressure.v equalizing device in said conduit; comprising a ribbon screw insaid conduitymeans for slowly driving said ribbonscrew whereby said rising flowof Water is, made uniform over the entire length ofsaid opening; said ribbon screw extending within said conduit beyond ,said open ing on both sides thereof; and means for removing said potatoes from said tank immediate-v ly af ter said separation.

' ROBERT G. INNES.

GEORGE INNES.

REFEEENCES CITED. The following references are of record in the file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 206,115 Jebb 'L July 16, 1878 821,811 Maguin May 29,1906 1,643,596 Zuckerm'an' Sept. 27, 1927 1,828,760 Blatch Oct. 27, 19.31 2,155,319 Livingston Apr. 18, 1939 2,240,442 Paul Apr. 29, 1941 2,246,532 Prins June 24, 1941 2,250,365 Flynn July 22, 1941 2,262,465 Olney Nov. 11, 1941 2,389,611 Clark Nov. 27, 1945 2,426,398 Lathrop Aug. 26, 1947 

